AGY-2495 | Rollands Plains Agricultural Establishment

Full description

The Agricultural Establishment at Port Macquarie began in 1821. (1) Rollands Plains (established March 1825) was part of the Port Macquarie Agricultural Establishment. (2)

Francis Allman was appointed Commandant of Port Macquarie in March 1821, his role was to establish a settlement at Port Macquarie. The purpose of the settlement was to find suitable labour for the worst male convicts. Constant hard labour was required and every possible precaution was taken to ensure these men did not escape. (3)

In April 1824, Captain John Rolland succeeded Francis Allman as Commandant of the penal settlement. (4) That same year Rolland selected a plain 24 miles distant on the north-west arm of the river to raise potatoes and pumpkins, under the direction of a reliable convict, Oliver. On 13 October 1824, Oliver discovered some plains containing rich soil 3 miles from the river. Rolland inspected these plains and found small strips of clear land extending along the river. Rolland reported 2000 acres of clear land. The area was named Rollands’ Plains and on 24 December 1824 Governor Brisbane ordered the cultivation of that land. (5)

In 1825 there were 1100 prisoners at Port Macquarie, (6) 230 of these were at Rollands Plains. (7). Due to the large number of escapes, by 1825, the settlement at Port Macquarie was deemed unsatisfactory as a penal settlement. (8) Problems continued when on 20 February 1826 Governor Brisbane appointed William S Parker Superintendent of Agriculture. (9)

Poor book keeping and management decisions led to the failure of many crops. In 1826 the following crops were cultivated at Rolland Plains: 294 acres of wheat, (10), and 200 acres of corn. (11) 66 acres of Sugar Cane. (12) Subsequently to 1825 no wheat had been sown, and after the 1826 crop, no maize had been planted. (13)
By Sept 1827 the number of prisoners at Port Macquarie declined to 530. (14) Parker's errors and bad judgements resulted to his dismissal as Superintendent on 6 March 1828. The position was filled by his Assistant Superintendent H. H. Parker who had filled that position since 20 February 1826. (15) In July 1830 Port Macquarie was open to free settlers. In June 1831, agricultural operations ceased at Rollands Plains, agricultural implements from disbanded farms were sold by auction on 23 November 1831. (16)

Endnotes
1. The Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, q.v. Establishments (Military, Penal and Agricultural), Fiche No.7, p.102.
2. ibid., p.103.
3. Historical Records of Australia (HRA), Jan 1819 - Dec 1822 Series 1 Vol. 10, p.480.
4. McLachlan I, Place of Banishment: Port Macquarie 1818-1832. Hale & Iremonger, p.113.
5. ibid. p.162.
6. HRA Jan 1823 - Nov 1825 Series 1 Vol. 11, p.649.
7. McLachlan, p.163.
8. HRA Jan 1823 - Nov 1825 series 1 Vol 11, p.604.
9. Returns of the Colony, 1830, p.122.
10. HRA June 1829 - Dec 1830, p.482.
11. ibid. p.483.
12. ibid. p.493.
13. ibid. p489.
14. ibid. HRA Jan 1827- Feb1828 Series 1 vol 18, p.522.
15. Returns of the Colony, 1828, p.94.
16. McLachlan, p.167.